Family helps McGraw make bail; court date set for Aug. 12

Published: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 9:56 p.m.

Family and friends have rallied to support Travis Lee McGraw, 46, charged with first-degree murder in the 2011 shooting death of his wife, Vanessa Mintz. Family and friends have posted $367,700 worth of property to help him get released on bail as he awaits a trial that could begin in August.

Family members of Mintz, a real estate broker who was working at her family's Saluda Mountain Lodge the night she was killed, have waited close to two-and-a-half years for a trial.

McGraw, who was released Monday, is now scheduled to appear in Polk County Superior Court on Aug. 12, but court officials were unsure Tuesday if a trial would begin on that date.

According to court records, McGraw's bail was secured through two properties from his mother, JoAnn London, valued at $126,200, and five properties valued at a total of $241,500 from family and friends. A local bondsman, Tim Tolar, covered the remaining $382,300 of McGraw's $750,000 bail.

Mintz's family members said they feared MGraw would flee once he was released, but the seven properties and Tolar's good faith money are now being used to secure McGraw's appearance in court.

A call to McGraw's mother went unanswered Tuesday night. The agency in charge of McGraw's bail declined to comment.

McGraw, a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force and former officer with the Fletcher Police Department, is ordered to have no contact with Mintz's family after his release.

Investigators believe Mintz, 53, was killed between the evening hours of Feb. 18, 2011 and the early morning hours of Feb. 19 in the employees' quarters of the lodge at 1793 Holbert Cove Road in Saluda.

Mintz died of a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators found a shotgun shell on the floor near the end of the bed.

McGraw was eating lunch at Cracker Barrel with his two children when he received a call from Mintz's daughter, Jessica Freeman, telling him to get to the lodge because “something had happened” to Mintz, according to court records.

A special agent with the State Bureau of Investigation received written consent from McGraw to search his 2005 red Chevrolet pickup. An unfired shotgun shell was found in the passenger side front door panel, matching the spent shell inside the employees' quarters, according to a report from SBI Special Agent Steven Modlin.

During an interview Feb. 19, McGraw told Assistant Special Agent in Charge J. M. Schandevel that he left the lodge at 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 18. He said Mintz had arrived at about 9 p.m. McGraw said he gave Mintz a hug and she had already changed into her pajamas.

McGraw was in a romantic relationship with another woman at the time. Schandevel said he spoke with the woman, Mary Beth Fisher, on Monday, Feb. 21. Fisher told police that McGraw talked about ending his marriage, but “he could not afford to.”

According to Modlin's report, Fisher and McGraw planned to be together.

“Fisher gave McGraw a deadline for Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011, to let her know where their relationship was going,” Modlin reported.

<p>Family and friends have rallied to support Travis Lee McGraw, 46, charged with first-degree murder in the 2011 shooting death of his wife, Vanessa Mintz. Family and friends have posted $367,700 worth of property to help him get released on bail as he awaits a trial that could begin in August.</p><p>Family members of Mintz, a real estate broker who was working at her family's Saluda Mountain Lodge the night she was killed, have waited close to two-and-a-half years for a trial. </p><p>McGraw, who was released Monday, is now scheduled to appear in Polk County Superior Court on Aug. 12, but court officials were unsure Tuesday if a trial would begin on that date.</p><p>According to court records, McGraw's bail was secured through two properties from his mother, JoAnn London, valued at $126,200, and five properties valued at a total of $241,500 from family and friends. A local bondsman, Tim Tolar, covered the remaining $382,300 of McGraw's $750,000 bail.</p><p>Mintz's family members said they feared MGraw would flee once he was released, but the seven properties and Tolar's good faith money are now being used to secure McGraw's appearance in court. </p><p>A call to McGraw's mother went unanswered Tuesday night. The agency in charge of McGraw's bail declined to comment.</p><p>McGraw, a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force and former officer with the Fletcher Police Department, is ordered to have no contact with Mintz's family after his release.</p><p>Investigators believe Mintz, 53, was killed between the evening hours of Feb. 18, 2011 and the early morning hours of Feb. 19 in the employees' quarters of the lodge at 1793 Holbert Cove Road in Saluda. </p><p>Mintz died of a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators found a shotgun shell on the floor near the end of the bed.</p><p>McGraw was eating lunch at Cracker Barrel with his two children when he received a call from Mintz's daughter, Jessica Freeman, telling him to get to the lodge because “something had happened” to Mintz, according to court records.</p><p>A special agent with the State Bureau of Investigation received written consent from McGraw to search his 2005 red Chevrolet pickup. An unfired shotgun shell was found in the passenger side front door panel, matching the spent shell inside the employees' quarters, according to a report from SBI Special Agent Steven Modlin.</p><p>During an interview Feb. 19, McGraw told Assistant Special Agent in Charge J. M. Schandevel that he left the lodge at 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 18. He said Mintz had arrived at about 9 p.m. McGraw said he gave Mintz a hug and she had already changed into her pajamas. </p><p>McGraw was in a romantic relationship with another woman at the time. Schandevel said he spoke with the woman, Mary Beth Fisher, on Monday, Feb. 21. Fisher told police that McGraw talked about ending his marriage, but “he could not afford to.”</p><p>According to Modlin's report, Fisher and McGraw planned to be together.</p><p>“Fisher gave McGraw a deadline for Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011, to let her know where their relationship was going,” Modlin reported. </p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>